After tying a league record with eight NCAA Tournament teams, the Big 12 once again proved last season it’s one of the toughest conferences in the country. All 16 teams in the league have spent the offseason retooling their rosters with the ultimate goal of claiming the Big 12’s first national championship since Kansas won it all in 2022.
Here’s the second of two stories looking at all the teams in the Big 12, with insight into the departing players, returnees and newcomers heading into the 2026-27 campaign.
Kansas (24-11, 12-6 in Big 12)
Departures: Darryn Peterson, 6-foot-6 freshman guard (declared for NBA Draft); Melvin Council Jr., 6-foot-4 guard (out of eligibility); Tre White, 6-foot-7 guard (out of eligibility); Flory Bidunga, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward (transferred to Louisville); Bryson Tiller, 6-foot-10 freshman forward (transferred to Missouri); Elmarko Jackson, 6-foot-3 junior guard (transferred to Georgetown); Jamari McDowell, 6-foot-4 junior guard (transferred to Wake Forest); Samis Calderon, 6-foot-8 freshman forward (transferred to Butler); Jayden Dawson, 6-foot-4 guard (out of eligibility); Nginyu Ngala, 5-foot-10 guard (out of eligibility); Wilder Evers, 6-foot-3 guard (out of eligibility); Justin Cross, 6-foot-8 guard (out of eligibility); Will Thengvall, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard; Corbin Allen, 6-foot-5 freshman guard (transferred to Appalachian State); Jaden Nickens, 6-foot-3 freshman guard
Returnees: Kohl Rosario, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard; Paul Mbiya, 7-foot sophomore center
Incoming: Keanu Dawes, 6-foot-9 senior forward (transfer from Utah); Leroy Blyden Jr., 6-foot-1 sophomore guard (transfer from Toledo); Christian Reeves, 7-foot-2 senior center (transfer from Charleston); Dennis Parker Jr., 6-foot-6 senior guard (transfer from Radford); Tyran Stokes, 6-foot-7 freshman forward; Taylen Kinney, 6-foot-2 freshman guard; Davion Adkins, 6-foot-9 freshman forward; Trent Perry, 6-foot-5 freshman guard; Luke Barnett, 6-foot-4 freshman guard; Grant Mordini, 6-foot-10 freshman center; Atticus Richmond, 6-foot-8 freshman forward
This offseason featured a lot of movement for Kansas with only two returnees, both reserves, from a squad that fell in the NCAA Tournament’s round of 32. The Jayhawks added a highly regarded group of newcomers headlined by Stokes, the nation’s top Class of 2026 recruit and potential No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft. Look for Kinney, a five-star prospect, and Blyden (16.4 points per game) to start for Bill Self alongside Stokes, Dawes (12.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game) and Reeves (11.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game).
Kansas State (12-20, 3-15 in Big 12)
Departures: PJ Haggerty, 6-foot-4 junior guard (transferred to Texas A&M); Abdi Bashir Jr., 6-foot-7 junior guard (transferred to LSU); Nate Johnson, 6-foot-3 guard (out of eligibility); David Castillo, 6-foot-1 sophomore guard (transferred to Santa Clara); Khamari McGriff, 6-foot-9 forward (out of eligibility); Taj Manning, 6-foot-7 junior forward (transferred to Iowa State); Elias Rapieque, 6-foot-9 junior forward (transferred to Loyola); CJ Jones, 6-foot-5 guard (out of eligibility); Dorin Buca, 7-foot-2 junior center (transferred to Rutgers); Marcus Johnson, 6-foot-7 forward (out of eligibility); Mobi Ikegwuruka, 6-foot-6 junior guard/forward; Stephen Osei, 6-foot-10 sophomore guard/forward; Exavier Wilson, 6-foot-1 freshman guard (transferred to Akron)
Returnees: Andrej Kostic, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard
Incoming: Brandon Rechsteiner, 6-foot-1 senior guard (transfer from Colorado State); Montana Wheeler, 5-foot-9 sophomore guard (transfer from Bradley); Jaden Schutt, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from Virginia Tech); JT Rock, 7-foot-1 junior center (transfer from New Mexico); Dezdrick Lindsay, 6-foot-6 senior guard/forward (transfer from Oregon); Isaiah Abraham, 6-foot-7 junior guard/forward (transfer from Georgetown); Timotej Malovec, 6-foot-8 sophomore guard (transfer from Miami); Pape N’Diaye, 7-foot junior forward (transfer from Xavier); Brock Vice, 6-foot-10 junior forward (transfer from Murray State); Matt Gilhool, 6-foot-10 redshirt freshman forward (transfer from LSU); Devin Hutcherson, 6-foot-5 freshman guard; Jaylen Alexander, 6-foot-2 freshman guard
Following a wild end to the Jerome Tang era, Kansas State hired Casey Alexander after he won nearly 74 percent of his games over seven seasons at Belmont. The Wildcats assembled a balanced, versatile roster with only one returnee in Kostic (5.2 points per game), whose 38-percent shooting from deep shows he’s a great fit for Alexander’s offensive attack. Rechsteiner (12.0 points per game) and Schutt (7.7 points per game) are also known for their shooting ability, while there are several newcomers with size and potential.
Oklahoma State (20-15, 6-12 in Big 12)
Departures: Anthony Roy, 6-foot-5 guard (out of eligibility); Parsa Fallah, 6-foot-10 forward (out of eligibility); Vyctorius Miller, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (transferred to Georgetown); Christian Coleman, 6-foot-8 guard (out of eligibility); Jaylen Curry, 6-foot-1 junior guard (transferred to Virginia Tech); Isaiah Coleman, 6-foot-5 junior guard; Andriga Vukovic, 6-foot-11 sophomore forward; Lefteris Mantzoukas, 6-foot-9 freshman forward; Robert Jennings II, 6-foot-7 forward (out of eligibility); Daniel Guetta, 6-foot-2 freshman guard; Kirk Cole, 6-foot-1 guard (out of eligibility)
Returnees: Kayne Clary, 6-foot senior guard; Benjamin Ahmed, 6-foot-10 sophomore center; Ryan Crotty, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard; Mekhi Ragland, 6-foot-11 sophomore forward
Incoming: Jordan Burks, 6-foot-9 senior forward (transfer from UCF); Julius Halaifonua, 7-foot junior center (transfer from Georgetown); Andrija Grbovic, 6-foot-11 senior forward (transfer from Arizona State); Luka Bogavac, 6-foot-5 senior guard (transfer from North Carolina); Kashie Natt, 6-foot-3 senior guard (transfer from Sam Houston); Jacob Walker, 6-foot-1 sophomore guard (transfer from Sam Houston); Latrell Allmond, 6-foot-8 freshman forward; Anthony Felesi, 6-foot-5 freshman guard; Jalen Montonati, 6-foot-7 freshman forward; Parker Robinson, 6-foot-5 freshman guard
There’s an overhauled roster in Stillwater after Oklahoma State advanced to the NIT in Steve Lutz’s second year. Clary (10.6 points and 4.6 assists per game) returns in a backcourt that adds a dynamic athlete in Natt (10.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game), who was last season’s Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year. Burks (13.3 points per game) and Halaifonua (9.5 points per game) will provide some inside scoring punch, while Allmond – a McDonald’s All-American – is the prize jewel of a stellar recruiting class.
TCU (23-12, 11-7 in Big 12)
Departures: David Punch, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward (transferred to Texas); Jayden Pierre, 6-foot-2 guard (out of eligibility); Liutauras Lelevicius, 6-foot-7 junior guard (transferred to Clemson); Jace Posey, 6-foot-5 sophomore forward (transferred to UTRGV); Kayden Edwards, 6-foot-2 freshman guard (transferred to Creighton); RJ Jones, 6-foot-3 junior guard (transferred to Washington State); Vianney Salatchoum, 6-foot-11 senior center (out of eligibility); Ashton Simmons, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard (transferred to Stephen F. Austin); Adam Stewart, 6-foot-11 sophomore center (transferred to BYU); Malick Diallo, 6-foot-9 redshirt sophomore (transferred to Loyola Chicago)
Returnees: Xavier Edmonds, 6-foot-8 senior forward; Micah Robinson, 6-foot-6 junior forward; Brock Harding, 6-foot senior guard; Tanner Toolson, 6-foot-5 senior guard; Drew McElroy, 6-foot-2 senior guard
Incoming: Gavin Sykes, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard (transfer from Long Beach State); DJ Thomas, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward (transfer from West Virginia); Luke Bamgboye, 6-foot-11 junior forward (transfer from Texas Tech); Trent Lincoln, 6-foot junior guard (transfer from Gulf Coast State College); Ryan Hunt, 7-foot junior center (transfer from Eastern Arizona College); Gavin Murphy, 6-foot junior guard (transfer from State Fair Community College); Milos Sojic, 6-foot-10 international freshman forward; Jack Wegman, 6-foot-1 freshman guard
Jamie Dixon welcomes back a strong core with a load of continuity following TCU’s fourth March Madness appearance in five years. The Horned Frogs return an all-league guy in Edmonds (12.7 points per game), their point guard in Harding (8.0 points per game) and Robinson (10.9 points per game), the team’s top scorer in both NCAA Tournament games last season. There’s more size and strength inside with the arrival of Bamgboye and Thomas, while Sykes (19.4 points per game) and Lincoln – the nation’s top junior college recruit – can score in bunches.
Texas Tech (23-11, 12-6 in Big 12)
Departures: Christian Anderson, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard (declared for NBA Draft); Donovan Atwell, 6-foot-5 guard (out of eligibility); LeJuan Watts, 6-foot-6 redshirt junior forward (transferred to Washington); Jaylen Petty, 6-foot-1 freshman guard (transferred to UCLA); Luke Bamgboye, 6-foot-11 sophomore forward (transferred to TCU); Tyeree Bryan, 6-foot-5 senior guard (out of eligibility); Leon Horner, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard (transferred to Jacksonville State); Nolan Groves, 6-foot-5 freshman guard (transferred to Minnesota); Jazz Henderson, 5-foot-11 redshirt freshman guard (transferred to Ball State); Jack Francis, 6-foot-3 guard (out of eligibility)
Returnees: JT Toppin, 6-foot-9 senior forward; Josiah Moseley, 6-foot-8 junior forward; Marial Akeuntok, 6-foot-11 redshirt sophomore forward; LaTrell Hoover, 7-foot redshirt freshman forward
Incoming: Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, 6-foot-1 senior guard (transfer from UNLV); Cruz Davis, 6-foot-3 redshirt senior guard (transfer from Hofstra); Damarion Dennis, 6-foot-1 junior guard (transfer from Wyoming); DaKari Spear, 6-foot-5 freshman guard; Trey Hall, 6-foot-7 freshman forward
Texas Tech must replace the bulk of its scoring after making a third straight trip to the Big Dance under Grant McCasland. Toppin (21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game) was a consensus All-American for the second consecutive year, but his status for next season is unclear after he had surgery for a torn ACL suffered in mid-February. There’s a strong collection of newcomers, including Gibbs-Lawhorn (20.7 points per game), Davis (20.1 points per game) and Spear, a top-25 national recruit who is the highest-rated prospect in school history.
UCF (21-12, 9-9 in Big 12)
Departures: Riley Kugel, 6-foot-5 guard (out of eligibility); Themus Fulks, 6-foot-2 guard (out of eligibility); Jordan Burks, 6-foot-9 junior forward (transferred to Oklahoma State); Chris Johnson, 6-foot-5 junior guard; Devan Cambridge, 6-foot-6 forward (out of eligibility); George Beale Jr., 6-foot-4 guard (out of eligibility); Jeremy Foumena, 6-foot-11 redshirt junior center (transferred to UNLV); Kris Parker, 6-foot-9 redshirt sophomore guard (transferred to Kennesaw State); Jamichael Stillwell, 6-foot-8 forward (out of eligibility); Poohpha Warakulnukroh, 5-foot-11 guard (out of eligibility); Zach Johnson, 6-foot-6 freshman guard (transferred to USC Upstate)
Returnees: John Bol, 7-foot-2 junior center; Carmelo Pacheco, 6-foot-5 senior guard; Elijah Hulsewe, 7-foot redshirt senior; Tanner Jones, 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman guard
Incoming: Dior Johnson, 6-foot-3 redshirt senior guard (transfer from Tarleton State); Lewis Walker, 6-foot-6 redshirt sophomore forward (transfer from North Carolina A&T); Isaiah Malone, 6-foot-8 senior forward (transfer from Florida Gulf Coast); Cayden Vasko, 6-foot-6 senior guard (transfer from Wofford); Arturo Dean, 5-foot-11 senior guard (transfer from Oklahoma State); Mister Dean, 6-foot-6 redshirt junior guard (transfer from Charleston); Churchill Abass, 6-foot-10 junior center (transfer from New Orleans); Jason Asemota, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward (transfer from Boston College); Ladarius Givan, 6-foot-8 freshman forward; Dylan Mann, 6-foot-8 freshman forward
Despite losing all of its scoring from the previous year and being picked to finish 14th in the Big 12, UCF emerged as one of the nation’s surprise teams last season by reaching the Big Dance. Four double-digit scorers are gone, but Johnny Dawkins signed proven offensive threats in Johnson and Walker, quality defenders in Malone – last season’s ASUN Defensive Player of the Year – and the Dean brothers and a steady ball-handler in Vasko. Bol (5.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game) is a former McDonald’s All-American who must be more consistent.
Utah (10-22, 2-16 in Big 12)
Departures: Terrence Brown, 6-foot-3 junior guard (transferred to North Carolina); Don McHenry, 6-foot-2 guard (out of eligibility); Keanu Dawes, 6-foot-9 junior forward (transferred to Kansas); Seydou Traore, 6-foot-6 junior guard/forward (transferred to West Virginia); Ayomide Bamisile, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward (transferred to Little Rock); Jacob Patrick, 6-foot-6 junior guard (transferred to SMU); Kendyl Sanders, 6-foot-5 freshman guard (transferred to Mississippi State); James Okonkwo, 6-foot-8 forward (out of eligibility); Josh Hayes, 6-foot-9 junior forward; Obomate Abbey, 6-foot freshman guard; Jahki Howard, 6-foot-6 sophomore forward; Ibrahima Traore, 6-foot-9 redshirt freshman forward (transferred to Morgan State); Elijah Moore, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard (transferred to McNeese); Alvin Jackson III, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (transferred to Weber State); Jerry Huang, 6-foot-2 sophomore guard; Colin McHaney, 6-foot-10 freshman center
Returnees: Lucas Langarita, 6-foot-5 sophomore guard; Babacar Faye, 6-foot-9 redshirt senior forward
Incoming: Jackson Holcombe, 6-foot-7 junior guard (transfer from Utah Valley); TJ Burch, 6-foot-1 junior guard (transfer from Wright State); Malek Gomma, 6-foot-8 senior center (transfer from Weber State); Taison Chatman, 6-foot-4 junior guard (transfer from Ohio State); Zati Loubaki, 6-foot-9 junior forward (transfer from Trinity Valley Community College); Styles Clemmons, 6-foot-1 freshman guard; Jaxon Johnson, 6-foot-8 freshman forward; David Katoa, 6-foot-4 freshman guard; Alec Anigbata, 6-foot-8 international freshman forward; Noam Yaacov, 6-foot-1 international freshman guard; Simeon Suguturaga, 6-foot-4 freshman guard; Fynn Schott, 6-foot-9 international freshman forward/center
Most of the top contributors left Salt Lake City after Alex Jensen’s first year coaching his alma mater, so Utah has plenty of new faces this season. Burch (12.4 points, 3.6 assists and 2.6 steals per game) can score, dish and defend, while Holcombe (16.0 points per game) is a versatile wing threat. There’s needed interior size, strength and length in Faye (15.2 points per game at Western Kentucky in 2024-25), who redshirted last season due to injury, and Schott, a polished big man from Austria with significant experience in international competition.
West Virginia (21-14, 9-9 in Big 12)
Departing: Honor Huff, 5-foot-10 guard (out of eligibility); Brenen Lorient, 6-foot-9 forward (out of eligibility); Chance Moore, 6-foot-6 senior guard (out of eligibility); Treysen Eaglestaff, 6-foot-6 guard (out of eligibility); Jasper Floyd, 6-foot-3 guard (out of eligibility); DJ Thomas, 6-foot-9 freshman forward (transferred to TCU); Harlan Obioha, 7-foot center (out of eligibility); Jackson Fields, 6-foot-8 redshirt senior forward (transferred to Georgia Tech); Morris Ugusuk, 6-foot-4 junior guard (transferred to Stony Brook); Jayden Forsythe, 6-foot-5 freshman guard (transferred to William & Mary); Abraham Oyeadier, 6-foot-9 redshirt freshman center (transferred to UC Riverside); Niyol Hauet, 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman guard
Returnees: Amir Jenkins, 6-foot-2 sophomore guard; Evans Barning Jr., 6-foot-7 redshirt freshman forward; MJ Feenane, 6-foot-6 redshirt freshman guard
Incoming: Javan Buchanan, 6-foot-7 senior forward (transfer from Boise State); Finley Bizjack, 6-foot-4 senior guard (transfer from Butler); Mouhamed Sylla, 6-foot-10 sophomore center (transfer from Georgia Tech); Seydou Traore, 6-foot-6 senior guard/forward (transfer from Utah); Martin Somerville, 6-foot-3 junior guard (transfer from Florida State); Joson Sanon, 6-foot-5 junior guard (transfer from St. John’s); Miles Sadler, 6-foot freshman guard; Amadou Seini, 7-foot-1 freshman center; Aliou Dioum, 6-foot-10 freshman center; Keonte Greybear, 6-foot-3 freshman guard
Ross Hodge guided West Virginia to the College Basketball Crown championship in his first year, but the Mountaineers have only one returnee who saw action last season. Their coaching staff added size, length and experience with portal and prep classes ranked among the top 20 nationally by 247Sports. Bizjack (17.1 points per game), Buchanan (12.6 points per game) and Sylla (9.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game) will be impact transfers, plus there’s excitement with the arrival of Sadler, a five-star guard who is the highest-rated recruit in program history.
Meet your guide
